GOGLA: Standardised impact metrics for the off-grid energy sector

Last week, the first version of a paper (attached here) outlining a harmonised impact reporting framework for the off-grid energy sector was launched.

Alongside Peter Alstone of Lighting Global (the World Bank and IFC Initiative to support growth of the off-grid lighting market to increase energy access), I chair the Impact Measurement working group at The Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) (the non-profit international industry association set up to promote lighting solutions to benefit society in developing markets). For the last 18 months we have been working on creating a standardised/harmonised set of impact metrics and calculations for the off-grid lighting sector to report on impact. The idea of the framework is to equip the sector to report on impact and to ensure that the calculating and communicating of this is done in a consistent and credible way. The working group has representatives from SolarAid, d.light, OSRAM, TOTAL, and advisors including the World Bank and GIZ, and has now created a priority set of metrics, established formulae for calculating these, sourced available data for creating default values, and had each metric reviewed by sector experts.

Last week, at the GOGLA members’ meeting in Amsterdam, the framework was launched. The working group will be making further refinements, through doing a test-run of the process with members over the coming months, and are planning to launch publicly later this year to encourage others working in this sector to adopt the same way of communicating impact. This is also an opportunity to seek feedback from a wider audience; we aim to get the framework validated by a respected body.